Parts of Hoboken still submerged in Sandy's wake

HOBOKEN — A large swath of Hoboken, apparently mostly on its southern side bordering Jersey City, is a swamp.

As one tries to enter the small town from the Jersey Turnpike side, the water quickly becomes waist deep, and a few blocks further into the city, it reaches a depth of more than 4 feet.

Underneath the small bridge that reads "Hoboken," some cars are abandoned, with murky water near the height of steering wheels.

Along Grand Street, on Hoboken's southern side, more cars can be seen partially submerged in water, as residents lean out of their windows, stranded. Some of them have looks of concern. Others lean out of their windows or stand on raised front stoops and just smile, seemingly still in disbelief.

Near the outside of the swampy depths, near an Exxon Station that is close to the bridge reading Hoboken, emergency vehicles passed, tugging along a rescue boat.

Sean McGarr, the owner of the Pour House restaurant and bar, got a landscaper friend with a large-wheeled truck to pull up to the Exxon and drive him and some other people, including a Hoboken resident and a couple reporters, through the deep waters.

Earlier, McGarr had tried roll his own, smaller truck through the souther side of Hoboken but had to turn back; the waters were toop deep. He did accomplish one thing, though. Three young men who'd been trying to walk over the nearby bridge in Hoboken got stuck — they wanted to come down from it, but the water appeared to be deep and dirty below. The young men, including 23-year-old Alex Walker, yelled down to McGarr and asked for a rescue. McGarr stopped, said Walker, and then the buddies scaled a fence and jumped into the bed of his truck.